Meditation and ADHD

Did you know that meditation is beneficial for ADHD symptoms and the ADHD brain?

Studies have shown that as little as 10-20 minutes of meditation a day can help relieve stress, clear the mind, and improve focus when practiced regularly.

Think about what your brain must look like on any given day. Is it bouncing around from one thing to another, filled with busy thoughts? Doesn’t it exhaust you just thinking about it?

You know how when you’re really busy and stressed, the idea of getting away to a spa sounds like a bit of heaven? Well, you’ve got the means to give that experience to your brain on a regular basis through meditation. You will benefit in ways you can’t even imagine. Here is a list of 100 benefits, just to get you started.

Now I know what you’re thinking – ADHD and meditation sound like mutually exclusive things. After all, isn’t meditation about clearing your mind? How are you ever going to get all the stuff that’s in your head out of it?

Meditation as most people think of it is hard for people with ADHD. Sitting quietly with a clear head thinking of nothing? The only time we sit quietly thinking of nothing is when we’re supposed to be doing something else, and we don’t do it on purpose.

In fact, school children with ADHD have been taught to meditate, and they picked it up pretty quickly. They also saw an improvement in school performance.

I have a few suggestions for you that might help you get on the track to mediation:

1. Cut yourself some slack. Just because 10-20 minutes a day is suggested doesn’t mean you have to start there. Try for a minute or two if that’s all you can do, then work your way up.

2. Choose a time of day that’s good for you. Early morning or late evening are usually not the best times – you’re liable to fall asleep.

3. Choose a comfortable position and place to meditate. You don’t have to sit cross legged on the floor if you don’t want to. A few minutes of that and I would be in pain. Find a comfortable chair, or even lay down if you know you won’t doze off.

4. Consider a guided meditation. I like those much better than trying to go it alone. Trying to clear my head myself just doesn’t work, but if I listen to a meditation, I can put all of my attention on the recording, and it works for me. My favorites are by Adam Kayce, but here are some other sources:

5. Another alternative is a walking meditation. You can also find audio for walking meditations. Check Beliefnet or some of the other sources I mentioned. You can also search online. Walking meditations are helpful for those of us with ADHD because it allows us to move, and hopefully do so outdoors.

Be sure to check out the video on the right part of the page for more about meditation and ADHD.